Patriots 2025-26 Season

[kraidstar]

I think this is a 10 or 11 win team, that as others have said may do much better because of the schedule.

They could easily be at 11 wins before they get to their bye week.

Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant in terms of talent/ or a year with a normal schedule. I agree, this team could theoretically win 13 or 14 games this year.

No offense,  but that's some fuzzy math. If the Pats win, say, 50% of their games against good teams and 80% of their games against mediocre or bad teams then they'd have to have an incredibly brutal schedule to account for 3 more losses. You'd be switching like 7 games from bad/mediocre teams to good teams.

This isn't college. In pro sports the differences in schedules doesn't actually mean that much.

The Pats are very good. Not the deepest team, but certainly very dangerous if healthy. I'm more worried about their lack of playoff experience than anything. They will probably choke when the lights get bright. Which is part of the process.

But let's not pretend like they aren't playing great football.

[Vermont Green]

As I have said before, two things can be true at the same time.  The Pats are a good team, better than I thought.  Better than everyone thought.  This is true.  It is also true that the Pats have had the easiest schedule in the league so far and no doubt have some number of more wins as a result.  How many more wins?  I don't know.

It is an odd season.  They have losses to the Raiders (were not quite ready) and the Steelers (5 turnovers) but have wins vs. the Bills and the Bucs.  They only beat ATL by 1 point.  Just because an opponent has a worse record does not guarantee a win.  A bad call penalty, a missed catch, a broken tackle, a small thing can change the outcome of a close game.

I don't know who the best teams are this season.  It is usually easier to tell.  IND has the second easiest schedule (per ESPN).  ESPN has KC as the top rated team with the 5th hardest strength of schedule.  They have DEN ranked 12th.  PHI looks solid to me, but I am not sure who else.

[SparzWizard]

As I have said before, two things can be true at the same time.  The Pats are a good team, better than I thought.  Better than everyone thought.  This is true.  It is also true that the Pats have had the easiest schedule in the league so far and no doubt have some number of more wins as a result.  How many more wins?  I don't know.

It is an odd season.  They have losses to the Raiders (were not quite ready) and the Steelers (5 turnovers) but have wins vs. the Bills and the Bucs.  They only beat ATL by 1 point.  Just because an opponent has a worse record does not guarantee a win.  A bad call penalty, a missed catch, a broken tackle, a small thing can change the outcome of a close game.

I don't know who the best teams are this season.  It is usually easier to tell.  IND has the second easiest schedule (per ESPN).  ESPN has KC as the top rated team with the 5th hardest strength of schedule.  They have DEN ranked 12th.  PHI looks solid to me, but I am not sure who else.

Welp, Damien Woody said the road to the Superbowl in the AFC this season goes through Foxboro. If he told me that 10 years ago, I would not deny that. But in 2025? I'll have whatever he's smoking and double down on that! 

[Phantom255x]

I'll be more than happy with making the playoffs and playing a competitive wild card game. As long as we keep making good strides this season including Maye, we're in a great spot. Then add 2 impact players on defense (one pass rusher/linebacker AND a legit safety) and we'll be cooking.

But my personal feeling, this team is absolutely good enough to even win 1, maybe even 2 playoff games this year depending on matchups. Yeah they aren't beating KC/BAL/BUF this January, but if they can avoid those teams early on then they can definitely win a game or two if it's teams like LAC/JAX/PIT they face. Won't be easy but it's very winnable for NE if they draw them in January.

[Neurotic Guy]

As I have said before, two things can be true at the same time.  The Pats are a good team, better than I thought.  Better than everyone thought.  This is true.  It is also true that the Pats have had the easiest schedule in the league so far and no doubt have some number of more wins as a result.  How many more wins?  I don't know.

It is an odd season.  They have losses to the Raiders (were not quite ready) and the Steelers (5 turnovers) but have wins vs. the Bills and the Bucs.  They only beat ATL by 1 point.  Just because an opponent has a worse record does not guarantee a win.  A bad call penalty, a missed catch, a broken tackle, a small thing can change the outcome of a close game.

I don't know who the best teams are this season.  It is usually easier to tell.  IND has the second easiest schedule (per ESPN).  ESPN has KC as the top rated team with the 5th hardest strength of schedule.  They have DEN ranked 12th.  PHI looks solid to me, but I am not sure who else.

Welp, Damien Woody said the road to the Superbowl in the AFC this season goes through Foxboro. If he told me that 10 years ago, I would not deny that. But in 2025? I'll have whatever he's smoking and double down on that! 

Enjoying this run but there are a few things that leave me unsure that they are true SB contenders.  O-line is still no better than average. Maye makes them look better because he?s elusive and throws well under duress. But Drake is getting clobbered with some frequency and that can?t continue. O-line, despite the Henderson runs has been struggling to consistently create good holes for RBs. Too many 2nd or 3rd and longs.  Too much difficulty converting 3rd or 4th and short. Never confident that they will pick up needed short yardage on the ground.   
D-line also is subpar v the pass.  Need to get more pressure.  Coverage has been good giving d-line time to get pressure but generally not getting enough early pressure.  Run defense has been really good. 

The struggles in the trenches will hurt v elite QBs.  We?ll soon see v Jackson and the rematch v. Allen.  Obviously handled the Bills once, but will see if they can do it again. 

But, whoda thunk?   

[Redz]

As I have said before, two things can be true at the same time.  The Pats are a good team, better than I thought.  Better than everyone thought.  This is true.  It is also true that the Pats have had the easiest schedule in the league so far and no doubt have some number of more wins as a result.  How many more wins?  I don't know.

It is an odd season.  They have losses to the Raiders (were not quite ready) and the Steelers (5 turnovers) but have wins vs. the Bills and the Bucs.  They only beat ATL by 1 point.  Just because an opponent has a worse record does not guarantee a win.  A bad call penalty, a missed catch, a broken tackle, a small thing can change the outcome of a close game.

I don't know who the best teams are this season.  It is usually easier to tell.  IND has the second easiest schedule (per ESPN).  ESPN has KC as the top rated team with the 5th hardest strength of schedule.  They have DEN ranked 12th.  PHI looks solid to me, but I am not sure who else.

Welp, Damien Woody said the road to the Superbowl in the AFC this season goes through Foxboro. If he told me that 10 years ago, I would not deny that. But in 2025? I'll have whatever he's smoking and double down on that! 

Enjoying this run but there are a few things that leave me unsure that they are true SB contenders.  O-line is still no better than average. Maye makes them look better because he?s elusive and throws well under duress. But Drake is getting clobbered with some frequency and that can?t continue. O-line, despite the Henderson runs has been struggling to consistently create good holes for RBs. Too many 2nd or 3rd and longs.  Too much difficulty converting 3rd or 4th and short. Never confident that they will pick up needed short yardage on the ground.   
D-line also is subpar v the pass.  Need to get more pressure.  Coverage has been good giving d-line time to get pressure but generally not getting enough early pressure.  Run defense has been really good. 

The struggles in the trenches will hurt v elite QBs.  We?ll soon see v Jackson and the rematch v. Allen.  Obviously handled the Bills once, but will see if they can do it again. 

But, whoda thunk?

Just kick back and enjoy them playing entertaining/winning football again.  They have a bunch of likable characters and a very likable head coach.  What's weird about this team is that they're not the team they're building for the long haul.  They have a bunch of short-term signings who are really stepping up together and jelling.  Again...just enjoy the ride.  It's a special thing to see something come together so quickly.

[SparzWizard]

Patriots just re-signed TE Rob Gronkowski today

[johnnygreen]

I hate the one day contracts just so you can retire under a certain team. Gronk was a great Patriot, but he retired as a Buccaneer. You retire for the team you last wore a jersey playing.

[Vermont Green]

But my personal feeling, this team is absolutely good enough to even win 1, maybe even 2 playoff games this year depending on matchups. Yeah they aren't beating KC/BAL/BUF this January, but if they can avoid those teams early on then they can definitely win a game or two if it's teams like LAC/JAX/PIT they face. Won't be easy but it's very winnable for NE if they draw them in January.

This is really what it is all about at this point.  Short of a total disaster of some sort, the Pats can sleep walk into the playoffs.  Then the legitimacy of all teams will be tested.  I have no idea which AFC teams are legit and which aren't.  I tend to agree on KC/BAL/BUF, but that may just be unfounded bias, based on these team have been good traditionally (and of course having successful QBs and coaches).  I don't feel 100% sure even about those team.

I am inclined to think that teams like DEN, IND, and LAC are more legit than the Pats also, but that may be the result of knowing the Pats weaknesses better than the other teams' weaknesses.  When you get to teams like JAX, PIT, I think the Pats can beat them (even though they lost to PIT).  I have no idea how to power rank teams this season.

[SparzWizard]

Patriots just re-signed TE Rob Gronkowski today

Kraft suggested the idea of a 2-day contract, since they play the Jets tomorrow.

Gronk would still be a huge red zone threat for the Pats offense, that's the crazy part.

Imagine a TE tandem of him and Hunter Henry tho.

[Vermont Green]

Pats favored by 13.5 points, even without Gronkowski suiting up.  I am guessing it has been a while since the Pats were favored by that much.  You can make some money if you take the Jets and a miracle happens (+600).